Burn After Reading (2008)

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
- 8 wins & 32 nominations total

Trivia
The Coen Brothers (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) wrote the character Osborne Cox with John Malkovich in mind. Brad Pitt's character was also written with the actor in mind, inspired by a commercial for which he suffered a similar haircut and dye job. Indeed, the Coen Brothers noted at a Q&A session at the Venice Film Festival that all the leading characters were written for all the leading actors, with the exception of Tilda Swinton.

Goofs
When Osborne returns home after being served for divorce, he tries to enter his home with a car key not a house key.

Quotes
[last lines]
CIA Superior: What did we learn, Palmer?
CIA Officer: I don't know, sir.
CIA Superior: I don't fuckin' know either. I guess we learned not to do it again.
CIA Officer: Yes, sir.
CIA Superior: I'm fucked if I know what we did.
CIA Officer: Yes, sir, it's, uh, hard to say
CIA Superior: Jesus Fucking Christ.

Crazy credits
As usual, the Coen Brothers edited this film under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Burn After Reading/Traitor/College/Babylon A.D./Hamlet 2 (2008)

Soundtracks
My Eyes Adored You
Written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan
Sung by George Clooney

not their best, but pleasurable nonetheless

This is by far not the most interesting production by the Cohens, but it is worth watching on a variety of levels. First, there is the pleasure of seeing a bunch of good actors working together with great chemistry, some of them (like Pitt and Clooney) certainly not in their "traditional" roles. Second, the story is actually wacky enough to hold up in terms of internal logic, as strange as it may seem. As usual with the brothers, do expect some unexpected turns, of the violent variety. And yet, somehow, the movie retains the character of a light comedy. Pay particular attention to the very last words spoken in the film, they may be the best summary of the whole thing I've heard so far.